The Robbie Burns Pub: Last Night - February 27th 2016

  • Description

    A visit and tour of The Robbie Burns Pub, Newbottle Street, on its last night of trading on February 27th 2016. ACRE FOR ACRE, Houghton-le-Spring is thought to be the most haunted place on Wearside and if the stories are true, the Robbie Burns public house on Newbottle Street must be one of the most haunted places in the area. Indeed, adverts for the pub in 2000 proclaimed: “The Most Haunted Pub in Houghton’. Although much older, records for the Robbie Burns pub date back to 1851 when John Ray was landlord. He had moved to Houghton after one of his sons had run away to sea, while his elder son had left home on account of disagreements with their stepmother. Being the closest drinking hole to Houghton’s theatres, which were located opposite, the Robbie Burns was often awash with players, performers and musicians once the curtains had gone down. The building undoubtedly would have soaked up some of that theatrical atmosphere, a core ingredient of hauntings! In the 1980s unexplainable activity was well reported in the local press, which featured stories of poltergeist activity and four ghosts. One ghost was that of an old woman wearing black who was seen to melt into the wall. Several customers and a member of staff saw the silhouette of a man move through the pub; and the apparition of a young, fair haired child, wearing Victorian style clothing has also been seen. The fourth and perhaps most interesting ghost is that of Thomas Caldwell. Thomas was allegedly killed in the cellar of the Robbie Burns in 1876. After a delivery of beer, he was found in the cellar with his head crushed underneath a beer barrel – he was barely alive! It was only when the barrel was moved by well-meaning rescuers that the air rushed into his brain cavity and he died. Electrical disturbances, strange noises and slamming doors on the premises are attributed to Thomas’s tormented spirit. http://www.houghtonlespring.org.uk/pubs/
  • Owner

    Houghton Heritage
  • Source

    Youtube (Youtube)
  • License

    What does this mean? Standard Youtube License
  • Further information

    Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkTvdvk4UpA
    Resource type: Video
    Added by: Pat Thomson
    Last modified: 7 years, 8 months ago
    Viewed: 827 times
    Picture Taken: Unknown
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